Last year also marked a significant transition in the history of clean
energy: for the first time since Clean Edge began tracking global
markets in 2000, the world installed more new solar PV generating
capacity, 36.5 gigawatts, than wind power (35.5 GW). Record levels of
new solar deployment in China, Japan, and the U.S. combined with a down
year in the wind industry to create this unprecedented crossover.

The global solar market’s continued double-digit growth of 15 percent,
plus a modest uptick in biofuels’ market size, was not enough to
overcome the wind industry’s lackluster performance. As a result,
combined global revenue for solar PV, wind power, and biofuels held
nearly steady at $247.6 billion, down just slightly from $248.7 billion
in 2012.

The full Clean Energy Trends 2014 report can be downloaded for
free at www.cleanedge.com.

“The adoption of clean energy is set against a bigger-picture context
that finds many of the world’s largest energy-using nations struggling
with critical choices for their energy future,” said Ron Pernick, Clean
Edge co-founder and managing director. “Climate disruptions, smog
alerts, planned and unplanned nuclear power shutdowns, and resource
scarcity are all driving significant change, accelerating the
double-digit adoption growth of solar PV, hybrid and electric vehicles,
green buildings, and other clean-tech solutions.”

The Clean Energy Trends 2014 report’s key findings include:

Solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and
installation) grew to $91.3 billion from $79.7 billion in 2012, with a
record 36.5 GW installed globally. In contrast to 2011 and 2012, when
PV panel costs plummeted more than 20 percent in both years, prices
held nearly steady last year, dropping slightly to $2.50 per watt
installed.

Wind power (new installation capital costs) fell to $58.5 billion from
$73.8 billion in 2012. The industry added 35.5 GW of new capacity in
2013, well below the previous year’s record 44.7 GW and its weakest
performance since 2008.

Biofuels (global production and wholesale pricing of ethanol and
biodiesel) rose slightly, from $95.2 billion in 2012 to $97.8 billion
last year. Global biofuels production remained constant at 31.4
billion gallons, with average prices increasing slightly.

Together, Clean Edge projects that these three sectors will expand
from $247.6 billion in 2013 to $397.8 billion within a decade.

Venture capital investments in U.S.-based clean-tech companies totaled
$4.4 billion in 2013, falling 25 percent from $5.8 billion in 2012,
according to data provided by Cleantech Group. Picking up some of the
VC financing slack is the continued rise of large corporate and
project finance deals. Google’s $3.2 billion acquisition of smart
thermostat maker Nest in early 2014 is the most prominent example, but
other recent large deals include Goldman Sachs’ $500 million fund to
finance SolarCity PV installations and Wells Fargo’s pledge to invest
$100 million in tax equity financing in SunEdison projects.

For the first time, Clean Edge expanded the scope of its global market
size research to include green buildings and electric and hybrid
vehicles. Since 2000, these sectors have experienced compound annual
growth rates of 68.9 percent and 38 percent respectively.

For more than a decade, Clean Edge has covered the industry’s most
important trends. During this time, it has covered the rise of solar
leasing over ownership, the phaseout of incandescent lighting, renewable
energy adoption by the U.S. military, Tesla as a startup, and many more.
This year’s report spotlights five key trends that will affect
clean-energy markets in the coming years:

Clean Edge issues its annual Clean Energy Trends report to track
key developments in clean-energy markets. Past reports have been
downloaded by tens of thousands of people in government, finance,
industry, and the media. Clean Energy Trends 2014 is made
possible by the support of its sponsors including premier sponsors
Chubb, SolarCity, and Wells Fargo & Company, and major sponsors
Autodesk, E2, Mintz Levin, and Sparkpr.

About Clean Edge, Inc.

Clean Edge, Inc., founded in 2000, is the world’s first research and
advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. The firm delivers an
unparalleled suite of clean-energy benchmarking services including stock
indexes, utility and consumer surveys, and regional leadership tracking,
providing companies, investors, NGOs, and governments with timely
research, trending analysis, and actionable insights. Managing director
Ron Pernick and senior editor Clint Wilder are coauthors of the business
books The Clean-Tech Revolution (HarperCollins, 2007) and Clean-Tech
Nation (HarperCollins, 2012). Visit the company online at www.cleanedge.com
and follow the company on LinkedIn
& Twitter.